Racer X Illustrated Motocross Magazine

The July 2018 Issue

MOTO UGANDA

By Blake Wharton

Blake Wharton journeys to the Pearl of Africa to meet and train the Orland brothers and learn about the nation’s moto scene.

After 30 hours, five airports, four countries, three airplanes, and two bad cases of jet lag, we arrived. Courtney Nagore—trusted photographer, travel companion, and personal secretary—and I once again found ourselves in foreign territory. This time we were on a continent we never thought we’d set foot on. We were looking for motocross in the heart of Africa.

Our introduction to African moto began at a track located in the small village of Busika in Uganda. Owned and operated by the Orland family, this unique facility would be considered a haven for thrill-seekers and daredevils alike, with motocross and amateur supercross tracks as well as a freestyle ramp, a zip line, ropes course, paintball field, rally car course, and even animal attractions. In addition, the compound contained three bungalows, in which we took up part-time residence. We had been invited to this distant place to train the Orland brothers—Aviv (14), Stav (11), and Alon (8)—on weekends and in between homeschooling sessions with On Track School.

The Orland family’s track was top-notch by any nation’s standards. Much like many other properties in less wealthy nations, the park grounds were completely enclosed by a barbed-wire fence with a guard at the entrance. Yet this barrier didn’t stop the native Busikan children from lining the perimeter day after day to watch the boys train and ride in pursuit of a dream. The brothers are their heroes.

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